Re: Aircon: low-pressure switch

["Dean W. Cains" <dwc@domain.elided>]

Hi Joe:

The refrigerant (e.g. R12, R134a, etc.) serves to carry the oil through the 
system (as well as the heat energy).  If there isn't enough refrigerant, 
there won't be enough oil circulated through the system, and the compressor 
is at risk for being damaged, or even seizing, from lack of 
lubrication.  So, the low pressure switch opens (cutting off the +12V to 
the compressor clutch) when there isn't enough refrigerant, preventing 
damage to the compressor.  If you're sure you've got enough refrigerant, 
bypass the switch, but fix it when you can.  Usually there is a Schrader 
valve behind the switch, so you can replace it without discharging the 
system of refrigerant.  The high-pressure switch is an entirely different 
ball game, and I wouldn't bypass one of those.

Regards,

Dean
Lutz, FL
'74 & '87 Spider Veloce's (both w/o a/c)


At 08:01 PM 3/10/2003, you wrote:

> Date: Mon, 10 Mar 2003 16:51:53 -0500
> From: Joe Elliott <jee@domain.elided>
> Subject: Aircon: low-pressure switch
>
> Can anybody tell me what the danger of running my GTV-6's AC with a
> bypassed low-pressure switch would be?  (i.e. what harm can come from
> running at too-low a pressure?)
>
> Thanks,
> Joe Elliott
> '82 GTV-6
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